View source for Data Packet

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A Data Packet is a formatted block of data sent across a [[computer network]].

==Packet Header==
Each individual data packet includes a packet header, containing information on the packet's destination, thereby informing the [[node]]s where to send the data packet. The header includes the following information about the packet's destination:
*The [[IP address]] number, which identifies the [[computer]] the data is to be sent to
*The [[port]] number, which identifies a particular [[process]] running on the destination Computer

The computer's [[IP address]] is like the street address of an apartment building, while the [[port]] number is like the number of a particular apartment within the building.

The [[IP address]] and the [[port]] number together make up an [[internet socket]], which is one of the end-points of a two-way communication flow between specific application processes running on two different devices connected to the Internet. 

==Packet Forwarding and Packet Routing==
Data Packets are [[Packet forwarding|forwarded]] from one [[network segment]] to another by [[node]]s, and [[Packet routing|routed]] to their final destinations.

[[Packet forwarding]] takes place just from one [[Node]] to the next, while [[Packet routing]] selects the path of links over which to send the packet towards its final destination.

Packet Forwarding is handled at lower [[Network Layer]]s, while Packet Routing involves higher Network Layers. Forwarding and routing are generally described in terms of one or the other of the two standard [[Network protocol]]s: the [[Internet Protocol]] or the older [[OSI Protocols]].

==See Also==
*[[IP Address]]
*[[Port]]
*[[Internet Socket]]
*[[Packet Forwarding]]
*[[Network protocol]]

==External Links==
*Wikipedia article about Data Packets: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_%28information_technology%29
*Wikipedia article about IP Address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address
*Wikipedia article about Ports: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCP_and_UDP_port
*Wikipedia article about Internet Socket: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_socket

==See also==
The new version of this file: [[Data packet]]


[[Category:Dustbin]]